It was originally built with assistance of the United States (probably the CIA) in the early 1980s for use by mujahedin during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. It has been described in newspapers as a suitable lair for a villain out of the James Bond movies: variously as a multi-storeyed cave complex harnessing hydroelectric power from mountain streams, or a lower-rise dwelling with hotel-like corridors capable of sheltering more than 1000.
In 2001 it was in use by al-Qaeda and was suspected to be the headquarters of Osama bin Laden. The Northern Alliance and U.S. fought to capture it in December 2001.